The best French Summer Salads, all in one place! French Summer salads are all about using fresh ingredients, at the peak of their ripeness. A beautiful balance of flavors, fresh fruits and vegetables that are juicy and enticing and a gorgeous presentation.
The food of the French Riviera is healthy and light, often known as the Mediterranean Diet. This post features eleven creative Summer salad recipes that you will love to make.
One bite of Salad Niçoise transports you to the beach restaurants of Nice overlooking the Mediterranean sea, where you are served La Salade Niçoise with a chilled glass of rosé. A taste of La Salade Mentonnaise and you can imagine yourself in the French countryside, in those hillside villages, surrounded by olive trees and citrus groves.
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The Best French Summer Salads
Grilled Peach & Shrimp Salad
Do you want to learn to make a salad that looks, and tastes like it comes from a Michelin starred restaurant in the South of France? Let's do it! Here is a step by step guide to making La Salade Tropezienne - a fancy Shrimp, Peach and Goat Cheese salad with a Rosé Vinaigrette inspired by Saint-Tropez.
French Salade Niçoise Recipe
Here is an authentic, tasty French Salade Niçoise recipe that you will love! One of my all-time favorite salads that is full of protein (eggs, tuna and possibly sardines) and with lots of good veggies butter lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, artichokes fava beans, radishes and basil. It is simple to make yet impressive to serve and is perfect for picnics or long lunches in the sun.. Serve with a fresh baked baguette and a glass of Rosé for the perfect French Riviera lunch.
La Salade Lyonnaise - the best brunch salad ever
La Salade Lyonnaise is the best brunch salad ever. A soft poached egg , crispy bacon and a rich shallot jam served on a homemade crouton over mixed greens.
Prosciutto Salad with Melon and Burrata
This Prosciutto salad with Melon and Burrata instantly takes me back to the South of France. The salty Prosciutto mixed with the sweet, juicy melon and the creamy burrata cheese is absolutely heavenly.
Peach Caprese Salad
Fresh Peaches take the classic caprese salad to the next level! Sweet peaches, juicy tomatoes, creamy burrata and tangy basil drizzled with olive oil. The taste of summer.
Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese Salad with amazing honey dressing
This Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese salad is UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. The beauty of the fresh figs, the soft decadence of the goat cheese, the sweetness of the honey dressing. YUM! Serve as light lunch with a fresh baked baguette and glass of Rosé, as a beautiful side dish or as an elegant cheese course to finish a meal.
La Salade Mentonnaise - a delicious Fennel, Orange and Artichoke Salad with Pine Nuts
La Salade Mentonnaise is a delicious fennel, orange and artichoke salad with pine nuts and a citrus vinaigrette. Perfect with grilled fish.
Tomato Burrata Salad with Basil and Orange Zest
A fresh twist on a familiar favorite - this Tomato Burrata Salad recipe with basil and orange zest is beautiful to serve and has a delicious, decadent flavor from the creamy burrata and the orange zest that will surprise and delight.
Taboulé: Couscous Salad
This Taboulé, or Cous Cous Salad is super simple to make, is full of healthy vegetables and stores very well in the fridge. The perfect side for a summer BBQ that you can continue eating all week long as a hearty and satisfying meal in a bowl.
La Salade Parisienne - the best French Potato Salad
La Salade Parisienne is a fancy Potato salad with a French twist. A sophisticated side dish for your Summer BBQs.
Roasted Plum, Goat Cheese & Lemon Thyme Salad Recipe
This salad is a meal in a bowl and has all the textures and tastes I crave in a perfect summer dish. A rich meatiness from the roasted plums and crunch from the toasted almonds and pine nuts. A tangy zing from the lemon thyme and lime zest. Indulgent creaminess from the fresh goat cheese and that little touch of “oh la la” from the Prosecco & honey citrus vinaigrette.
Fresh Fennel and Tomato Salad
A fresh, crunchy and satisfying summer salad with just 2 ingredients - raw fennel and tomatoes! The perfect side to serve with grilled meat or on its own as a light summer salad.
French Salads
Did you know that many of the famous French Salads are named after cities in France?
These salads can take you on a culinary tour of France. La Salade Niçoise, La Salade Parisienne, La Salade Lyonnaise, La Salade Mentonnaise and, my own creative spin on one of my absolute favorite towns in France, La Salade Tropezienne.
Le Chef's Tips for Plating
There is no denying it. We can both use the exact same ingredients but when my husband, Le Chef, plates a dish it always looks 100x better than when I do it. At least it used to... little by little I have been learning the professional tricks of the trade to make your salads look more appealing to the eye.
We eat with our eyes first, and a well presented salad, with the ingredients beautifully laid out, is infinitely more appetizing and impressive than a jumble of ingredients.
Ideal for BBQ season and summer dining, each of these recipes includes Le Chef's secrets for making your salads the showstopper of any table.
Whether you are looking to eat more vegetables (like I am!) or whether you would like to prepare for a potluck or just bring more joy to your Tuesday work-from-home lunch, these French Summer Salad recipes are here for you.
What to serve with Summer Salads
When hosting friends for a summer lunch, I will offer a welcome cocktail such as a Piscine Pêche, a St-Germain Spritz or a Kir Royale along with some homemade olive tapenade on croutons.
If you would like to make a larger meal, a Poulet Rôti, or French Roast Chicken is always my go to.
I may also lay out a French Cheese board and some Fresh baked Baguette.
Lastly, I will serve a little something sweet such as chocolate mousse or simply some fresh fruit with chantilly cream.
Equipment needed
You likely have everything you need already, but if you don’t, check out my boutique for beautiful French inspired Salad accessories.
If you live in the DC Area you can try several of these recipes at Le Chef's Restaurant L'Avant-Garde. His Salade Niçoise or Lobster Salad with graprefruit and green apple shavings is exquisite.
I hope you have enjoyed this round up of my favorite French Salad recipes. Which one is your favorite? Are there any other salads you would like me to share a recipe for? I love to hear from you!
Bon Appétit,
Le Chef's Wife
ABOUT LE CHEF'S WIFE
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (6 and 3) and I run a marketing company in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
Look inside our Kitchen with this recent Washington Post Article. We were recently featured on the TODAY SHOW for our recipes of French Onion Soup Gratinée and Moelleux au Chocolat. You can watch our full segment here:
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Patrice says
These are such delicious dishes and I have almost made every one of them - maybe the baguette later this year! Thank you so much and keep teaching us how to make these wonderful meals. I also like your links to find the cooking utensils or best dishes for serving these foods.
Anina Belle Giannini says
Merci Patrice! I appreciate your kind comment so much! I am glad you are enjoying the recipes. Bonne soirée, Anina Belle
Suzanne says
Love the salad series!
lechefswife says
Thank you so much for your kind comment! I love that you are enjoying the Salad series!
Maureen says
Thank you so much- we love cooking with you! Your recipes are wonderful!